Renault Removes Bollore With Immediate Effect, Appoints Clotilde Delbos As Interim CEO

Renault has appointed Clotilde Delbos as interim CEO after the board voted to end the tenure of Thierry Bollore, confirming earlier reports on the matter.

“At this meeting, the Board of Directors decided to end the mandate of Mr Thierry Bolloré as Chief Executive Officer of Renault SA and President of Renault s.a.s with immediate effect. The Board of Directors also decided to appoint, with immediate effect, Mrs Clotilde Delbos as Chief Executive Officer of Renault SA for an interim period, until a process is completed to appoint a new Chief Executive Officer”, the French manufacturer said in a statement.

Also Read: Renault Could Replace CEO Thierry Bollore In Governance Shakeup

The announcement came after reports emerged talking about Renault wanting to sever any remaining connections from former boss Carlos Ghosn; Bollore was considered to be close to Ghosn, being one of the first Renault executives to condemn his arrest as a conspiracy from Nissan.

From that point on, Nissan didn’t trust Bollore while his relationship with current Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard has been described as just cordial.

Just before the company’s official announcement, Bollore said that this is “a coup” and a “shocking power grab” during an interview with Les Echos. “The brutality and totally unexpected nature of what’s taking place are astonishing,” Bollore said. “On an operational level, I don’t see where the fault lies.”

Clotilde Delbos joined Renault in 2012 as Group Controller while on 2016, she was appointed Chief Financial Officer. Jean-Dominique Senard will assume the presidency of Renault s.a.s during this interim period.